50 pound notes !!

[Moonpie2]

So, I'm gonna be travelling back to England for Christmas, and wanted some cash in my pocket for when I arrived.

People told me to "go to the bank and get GBP there instead of a bureau de change because you'll get a better rate" so I did.
And the tools gave me a bunch of 50s.

In my mind this is just as useless as carrying no money because I feel no one will accept it.

Is this just one of those things that you hear and accept as fact?
Do places still regularly refuse 50s? Should I maybe see about changing the 50s for 20s (if I can)
Or is it actually not that bad and there's no fuss?

- Cheers

 

[Moonpie2]

When the "tools" handed you the fiddies did you not think to ask for a lower denomination?

Also, Revolut.

I did. They said they didn't have any
I figured money's money and took it. But then started having doubts and ponderings.

 

[Moonpie2]

Ohhh it's nowhere near 1k
Only a few hundred quid.

I'm wondering if bureau de change will do like for like exchanges if I explain I'm scared of 50s? Hahah
Give them 2x50 and get 5x20 back?
Dunno?
Unlikely?

 

[Moonpie2]

Coming from China you will be shocked that we don't take WeChat as payment I bet.

Not really
I know WeChat (WeiXin) is not so big in other countries. Most preferring WhatsApp I think.

But yeah, if you have WeChat linked to your bank card over here, there's almost nothing you can't do.
Pay in corner shops, big shops, taxis, busses, pay your bills, buy cinema tickets, train tickets, the list goes on and on. All from inside that one chat app

 

[Moonpie2]

Question back the other way. I looked up WeChat payment but it seems to be able to set up an account you need a Chinese or HK phone number? I was going to do it on my phone, got the social network side set up but not the payment side and can't figure out how to do it.

Hmmm..... honestly I can't tell you the requirements. But I can say I have a Chinese number and Bank account over here. So was easy for me.
I DO remember having a problem with my initial set up of wechat wallet but that was more to do with entering my 'name' on my bank account details.
Had to actually go to the bank and ask what I was called in their system. Hahah !!

 

[Moonpie2]

I've been turned away for trying to pay for a meal with £50s, it's a bit of a joke tbh

In my research of this, it seems shops CAN refuse 50s and the old "THIS IS LEGAL TENDER" argument won't work.
However when paying a debt, money can not be refused in any circumstance.
So an example of a debt would be paying for a taxi ride after you've reached your destination or I assume paying for a meal once it's in your belly.